The pursuit of innovation has taken over pop culture as the Holy Grail every organization should strive for. From big tech, consumer electronics, and automotive, to fashion, and even food, everyone is gunning for innovation. Often perceived as "think tanking"—dreaming up solutions and ideating in multicolored Post-Its—innovation is a necessity to compete in the marketplace. The "soft innovation" and strategy process is the preliminary part of that, yes. But the hardest, most valuable, and elusive bit is the execution and integration with, often times archaic, systems.

Two years ago the inaugural No Right Brain Left Behind innovation challenge asked the creative industries to dream up solutions that could help the creativity crisis in the United States' education system. In seven days, the challenge yielded 300 concepts from some of the top creative companies in the nation.

However, when it came to integrating our solutions within the educational system, it soon become clear that we didn't have a clue what we were doing. We did not have the infrastructure, educator support, or resources to generate any measurable impact. Looking at the praise, engagement, and participation we received, the challenge was a huge success. When it came to making an impact on the ground, we failed.

SLÖJD is our latest addition to NRBLB programming, and is a focused exercise in "hard innovation" that tackles an epic problem. This past May, we invited nine designers to prototype a breakthrough product that would empower educators and enhance creative development in students. Sure there were some Post-Its on walls, but the main emphasis was to build, get student and educator feedback, and present to a panel of guest critics for feedback and next-step iteration.

The goal was to put something real and effective out into the world. Was it a finished product in six days? No. But we shipped, learned plenty along the way, and were fortunate enough to win the LA2050 grant, which gave us some seed funding to pilot the product at Locke High School in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood.

The above video will give you a deeper look into our world and our process, and tell you what SLÖJD means. We welcome your feedback and ideas, and look forward to sharing what we learn as we move forward at Locke.

Click here to add downloading or sharing this Design Thinking For Educators toolkit to your GOOD to-do list.

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The pursuit of innovation has taken over pop culture as the Holy Grail every organization should strive for. From big tech, consumer electronics, and automotive, to fashion, and even food, everyone is gunning for innovation. Often perceived as "think tanking"—dreaming up solutions and ideating in multicolored Post-Its—innovation is a necessity to compete in the marketplace. The "soft innovation" and strategy process is the preliminary part of that, yes. But the hardest, most valuable, and elusive bit is the execution and integration with, often times archaic, systems.

Two years ago the inaugural No Right Brain Left Behind innovation challenge asked the creative industries to dream up solutions that could help the creativity crisis in the United States' education system. In seven days, the challenge yielded 300 concepts from some of the top creative companies in the nation.

However, when it came to integrating our solutions within the educational system, it soon become clear that we didn't have a clue what we were doing. We did not have the infrastructure, educator support, or resources to generate any measurable impact. Looking at the praise, engagement, and participation we received, the challenge was a huge success. When it came to making an impact on the ground, we failed.

SLÖJD is our latest addition to NRBLB programming, and is a focused exercise in "hard innovation" that tackles an epic problem. This past May, we invited nine designers to prototype a breakthrough product that would empower educators and enhance creative development in students. Sure there were some Post-Its on walls, but the main emphasis was to build, get student and educator feedback, and present to a panel of guest critics for feedback and next-step iteration.

The goal was to put something real and effective out into the world. Was it a finished product in six days? No. But we shipped, learned plenty along the way, and were fortunate enough to win the LA2050 grant, which gave us some seed funding to pilot the product at Locke High School in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood.

The above video will give you a deeper look into our world and our process, and tell you what SLÖJD means. We welcome your feedback and ideas, and look forward to sharing what we learn as we move forward at Locke.

Click here to add downloading or sharing this Design Thinking For Educators toolkit to your GOOD to-do list.

]]>
Wed, 21 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000http://magazine.good.is/posts/innovation-is-dead-long-live-innovation
http://magazine.good.is/posts/innovation-is-dead-long-live-innovationViktor VensonEvery three months, GOOD releases our quarterly magazine, which examines a given theme through our unique lens. Recent editions have covered topics like the impending global water crisis, the future of transportation, and the amazing rebuilding of New Orleans. This quarter's issue is about cities, spotlighting Los Angeles, and we'll be rolling out a variety of stories all month. You can subscribe to GOOD here.]]>
Every three months, GOOD releases our quarterly magazine, which examines a given theme through our unique lens. Recent editions have covered topics like the impending global water crisis, the future of transportation, and the amazing rebuilding of New Orleans. This quarter's issue is about cities, spotlighting Los Angeles, and we'll be rolling out a variety of stories all month. You can subscribe to GOOD here.]]>
Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:00:00 +0000http://magazine.good.is/posts/taking-to-the-streets
http://magazine.good.is/posts/taking-to-the-streetsCord Jefferson
The Simpsons Just Make a Plea to Help Save Watts Towers?]]>

Many of us here in Los Angeles know that the Watts Towers—the famous folk art sculpture in South L.A. which Italian immigrant Simon Rodia hand-crafted from scrap metal and found objects—are in trouble. The 60-year-old towers suffer from severe lack of funding and possible staff cuts, and an adjacent art center has also been threatened. Doh! Last year, the county museum LACMA took control of the towers' management, and earlier this year it received a $500,000 grant to help with upkeep. But the real issue with preserving the towers' heritage is their invisibility. Tucked into a part of the city without many services (and still perceived as dangerous), visitors have to make a special trip to see the historic monument, and not many do. This week's episode of The Simpsons not only portrayed the towers beautifully, it encouraged its viewers to go there.

Of course, they did it in a predictably perverse manner. When Bart's movie Angry Dad gets nominated for an Oscar, the family heads to Hollywood, but Bart wants to keep Homer far away from the ceremony so he doesn't steal his glory. So he gives Homer and Marge a list of "highlights" to visit in the city (a bunch of insider jokes for Angelenos: the 405/10 freeway interchange, a car dealership with perhaps the most pervasive jingle on local radio—"Keyes, Keyes, Keyes, Keyes on Van Nuys"—and, simply, "The Valley"). Watts Towers tops that list.

The representation of the towers themselves is pretty true to life. The shot where Marge and Homer are standing before the 99-foot structures accurately conveys the scale as well as the detail in the mosaics. Poking fun at the seemingly flimsy construction of the towers is especially funny because they were actually tested for their structural integrity and ended up damaging the crane that was testing them. And the Rodia name-check by the guys in the passing car is a nice touch. I do think The Simpsons meant it as a gentle urge for people to visit the towers, no matter what "must-see" list they're on. Just think what wonders Homer did for Spider-Pig!

It also made me think about more unique ways that Angelenos—with their unique grasp of international media—could help bring attention to the towers. For ideas, visit this Save Watts Towers site, or check out the urban revitalization initiative across the street called the Watts House Project.

Many of us here in Los Angeles know that the Watts Towers—the famous folk art sculpture in South L.A. which Italian immigrant Simon Rodia hand-crafted from scrap metal and found objects—are in trouble. The 60-year-old towers suffer from severe lack of funding and possible staff cuts, and an adjacent art center has also been threatened. Doh! Last year, the county museum LACMA took control of the towers' management, and earlier this year it received a $500,000 grant to help with upkeep. But the real issue with preserving the towers' heritage is their invisibility. Tucked into a part of the city without many services (and still perceived as dangerous), visitors have to make a special trip to see the historic monument, and not many do. This week's episode of The Simpsons not only portrayed the towers beautifully, it encouraged its viewers to go there.

Of course, they did it in a predictably perverse manner. When Bart's movie Angry Dad gets nominated for an Oscar, the family heads to Hollywood, but Bart wants to keep Homer far away from the ceremony so he doesn't steal his glory. So he gives Homer and Marge a list of "highlights" to visit in the city (a bunch of insider jokes for Angelenos: the 405/10 freeway interchange, a car dealership with perhaps the most pervasive jingle on local radio—"Keyes, Keyes, Keyes, Keyes on Van Nuys"—and, simply, "The Valley"). Watts Towers tops that list.

The representation of the towers themselves is pretty true to life. The shot where Marge and Homer are standing before the 99-foot structures accurately conveys the scale as well as the detail in the mosaics. Poking fun at the seemingly flimsy construction of the towers is especially funny because they were actually tested for their structural integrity and ended up damaging the crane that was testing them. And the Rodia name-check by the guys in the passing car is a nice touch. I do think The Simpsons meant it as a gentle urge for people to visit the towers, no matter what "must-see" list they're on. Just think what wonders Homer did for Spider-Pig!

It also made me think about more unique ways that Angelenos—with their unique grasp of international media—could help bring attention to the towers. For ideas, visit this Save Watts Towers site, or check out the urban revitalization initiative across the street called the Watts House Project.